Folding table.



No. 652,720. Patented June 26, I900. S. V. MERRIM'AN.

FOLDINGTABLE.

(Applicatiun filed Oct. 19, 1899.!

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

ATTORNEY THE nonms PETERS Pnp1uu'mnu wnsnmamn. D c.

' No. 652,720. Patented lune 26; I900. s. v. 'MERRIMAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

(Application flied Oct. 19, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NoHo deL) nun IN-YENTOR ATTORNEY 0., rumour NITED ATENT FOLDlNG TABLE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,720, dated June 26, 1900.- Application filed October 19, 1899. smart. 734,137. (No an.)

To aZZ whom it m/Lty concern:

Be it known that I, SEYMOUR V. MERRI- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a folding table which shall have its top mounted on supports capable of being folded quickly, conveniently, and compactly under the top of the table and shall obviate the inconvenience of legs supporting the top at or near the edges thereof; and to that end the invention consists, essentially, of a folding table having its top mounted upon supports pivotally connected to the central portion of said top and the supports articulated intermediate their ends to fold compactly under the top and provided with means for retaining said supports in standing positions, as hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved folding table in its erected position. Fig. 2 showsthe samein its folded condition. Fig. 3 is a transverse sec tion on line X X in Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the tablein its folded condition. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the looking device for retaining the table in its folded condition. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a table embodying a modification of my invention. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line Y Y in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a detached inner side view of one of the upper sections of one of the pedestals embodying the aforesaid modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. i

a denotes the top of the table, which may be either square, as shown, or any other desirable shape. b represents the supportingbase ofthe table, and c crepresent the standards or pedestals which support the top a, upon the aforesaid base. Said pedestals are divided transversely intermediate their ends, as shown-at c, and the two end sections of each are connected togetherby means of a hinge d, the joint of which is at the inner I side of the pedestal to allow the two sections thereof to deflect outward from their standing positions and to fold the upper section over the top of the lower section, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These articulated pedestals are pivotally, connected to the top a and base I) in proximity to the centers thereof and by means of hinges e 6, having their joints at the outer sides of the pedestals to allow said hinges to open radially outward from the center of the top and base. The hinges thus disposed cause the folded pedestals to lie compactly between the top a and base 5.

In erecting the table for use it is only necessary to lift the top a, in which operation the weight of the base 1) causes the pedestals c c to unfold and become distended to assume the necessary standing position for supporting the top a, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings. To retain the pedestals in said erect or standing position, I employ a suitable tie, preferably of the form of a ring I, of a diameter to encompass the entire set of pedestals at a suitable distance from the top a, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. To the outer sides of the pedestals may be attached metal strips h h, receiving over them the ring t and provided with transverse notches to retain said ring in place. Said metal strips also serve to protect the pedestals from wear and abrasion by the engagement of the ring.

A modification of the locking device consists of a spider 25', formed with radial arms it, terminating in transversely-projecting heads jj, which slide in longitudinal grooves ll in the inner sides of the upper sections of the pedestals and are retained therein by metal strips 0 o, fastened to the pedestals at opposite sides of the grooves l l and projecting over said grooves to engage the lateral projections of the heads j j, as shown in Figs. 7 and S of the drawings. By sliding thespider to the top a the pedestals o c are allowed to be folded in the manner hereinbefore described.

If desirable, a suitable catch or look may be employed to retain the table in its folded position while being carried about or during transportation. I illustrate one form of such locking device in Figs. 8 and 5 of the drawihgs, and it consists of a spring-bolt a, connected to the under side of the top a and engaging a catch 72, attached to the base I). A wire 1; may be attached to the bolt to permit it to be conveniently drawn out of engage ment when desired to unfold the table.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A folding table composed of the top, a supporting-base, a plurality of supportingpedestals pivotally connected to said top and base, each of said pedestals being articulated intermediate its ends to deflect outward thereat to a folded position, and means for sustaining said pedestals in standing position as set forth.

2. A folding table composed of the top, a supporting-base, a plurality of supportingpedestals, each of which pedestals is formed of two end sections, hinges connecting the upper end sections to the top and the lower end sections to the base, and disposed with their joints at the outer sides of the pedestals, hinges connecting the upper end sections directly to the lower end sections and disposed with their joints at the inner sides of the pedestals, and means for sustaining said pedestals in standing position as set forth.

3. A folding table composed of the top, a supporting-base, a plurality of supportingpedestals pivotally connected to said top and base, and articulated intermediate their ends to deflect outward, means for sustaining said pedestals in standing position, and means for locking the same in their folde'd condition as set forth.

4. In a folding table, the combination with the top and a supporting-base, of a plurality of pedestals pivotally connected to said top and base, and articulated intermediate their ends to deflect outward, and a ring embracing the entire set of pedestals and sustaining the same in standing position as set forth.

SEYMOUR V. MERRIMAN.

Witnesses:

J. J. LAASS, H. B. SMITH. 

